Loyal reader firelady offered up some excellent comments on my HATCHfest post, comments that are worth highlighting here:
Hatchfest is a great idea on many levels- as a means to provide mentoring opportunities for local creatives, as an opportunity for creatives to network outside of the region, and for locals to network between themselves. These are all vital components for developing a sustainable regional creative economy. Networking is imperative for all economic sectors, but more so for the creative sector. See “The Warhol Economy” which examines NYC’s creative economy. (Yes, I know Asheville isn’t NY, however the dynamics are similar, only at a smaller scale).
However, a creative economy is inherently elitist- naturally creating an hour glass economy. For a creative economy to be sustainable, meaning the environment will continue to perpetuate the same (or higher) level of innovation, inclusivity is an imperative. New people (and their ideas) must feel like they can quickly plug-in to the social networks of the thinker/doer creatives.
Diversity is also important- nothing more stagnating than having the same old people sharing the same ideas. Self-congratulatory exclusivity is a turn off. With this type of dynamic, the new creatives just go “Yuck, I’m taking my creative ideas some place else.”
Another thing about creativity is that it truly is the great “leveler”- creativity and innovation are not the sole bastion of el viejo’s “high status hotshots”. The next great idea could come from anywhere/from anyone, (including a middle-aged blogger who drools over models without panties).
When engaging in any type of economic development effort meant to perpetuate a region’s creative economy (which was the point of Advantage West purchasing the franchising rights to Hatchfest), authenticity is a hallmark of any long term effort. There’s plenty of room for Asheville to have numerous facets of its creative ecosystem, but this event sounded like it could be “Anywhere USA-trying-too-hard-to-be-hip.”
To be fair, this was the first (that I know of) event by the Hatchfest contingent. Kudos to them for not having a wonky “meet and greet” typical meeting from hell. Did it provide the opportunity for the networking and introductory dynamic needed for a volunteer -driven nonprofit event? I wouldn’t know ’cause I was home watching old movies.
Ash, you weren’t really drooling were you?
1 Comment
He was totally drooling, firelady. As were most of the "creative" men there.